Thierry Henry admits to being heartbroken when he left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007 on a €24 million deal.

"They adopted me and I am at home there," he told L'Equipe. "My home sweet home is London. My club is Arsenal.

“When I put on the red and white jersey, it has the same effect that the France jersey has. It's like when Clark Kent becomes Superman. I become someone different, someone stronger.

“When I left the club, a part of me died. I cried and that is not something I've ever done often, even as a kid.”

Henry quashed any suggestion that Arsene Wenger lacked ambition when he allowed him to leave, but he aired his hope that Gunners fans understood his decision to leave.

“I am a competitor,” he added. “But if I am to come back, I had to leave, no? The fans maybe understood that I am transparent, that I have never been a 'character'. Maybe they respect this.

“In England, at least in London, I think that people most love the player that was.”